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Hike the Clifftop Trail in Bon Echo Provincial Park

Cloyne, Ontario

5.0/5
based on 1 reviews

Details

Distance

1.2 miles

Elevation Gain

377.3 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Jonathon Reed

Hike to the top of the 100-metre cliff above Mazinaw Lake as you experience one of the most stunning parks in eastern Ontario. 

Bon Echo is well-known for its deep, clear lake and the native pictographs that adorn the sheer cliff on the north shore. It is a well-sized park with 400 car-accessible campsites in Mazinaw Campground that are walking distance from the lake.

Your first step is to reserve your site on Ontario Parks. Bon Echo is open for day use and camping from mid-May to mid-October, with skiing or snowshoeing into the park permitted throughout the winter season. 

As you can see on Google Maps, Mazinaw Lake is broken into Upper Mazinaw and Lower Mazinaw, with a shallow narrow waterway called The Narrows in between. The start of Clifftop Trail is on the west side of the lake, south of The Narrows. To get there, I recommend bringing a canoe or renting one from Bon Echo Outfitters, a rental company situated within the park. Canoeing or kayaking means you can explore the base of the cliff (and the pictographs) at your own pace and interest. However, if you don't want to canoe you can take a fee-based ferry operated by Friends of Bon Echo Provincial Park.

Once you reach the dock south of The Narrows, it is easy to follow Clifftop Trail. The first several hundred metres have stairs that zigzag up the cliff, after which you'll come to the first lookout. After taking in the view across Lower Mazinaw Lake, keep exploring the tops of the cliffs as far as you want.  It truly is a spectacular sight.

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Features

Camping
Photography
Hiking
Beach
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Forest
Lake
Picnic Area
Scenic
Wildlife
Cliff Jumping

Hike the Clifftop Trail in Bon Echo Provincial Park Reviews

One of the coolest places in Ontario

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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